When it comes to picking a place name for your child, you could consider a continent like Asia, a country like India, a city like Vienna or Verona…or one of the select group of U.S. states that lend themselves to babies’ birth certificates. Here are the Nameberry picks of the best state names and how they came to be—with their mix of Native American, British and French origins.

Last week we looked at the ladies, and now we cross over to the other side of the gender divide—for some of the immortal male movie characters whose names have endured. It was really tough winnowing down this list and saying goodbye to some worthy examples with too-common names (AndyHardy, GeorgeBailey in It’s a Wonderful Life, Bogart’s Rick in Casablanca, ClintEastwood’s Dirty Harry); plus over-the-top baddies like Travis Bickle, NormanBates and Hannibal Lector– and a goofball namesake like AustinPowers. But here are a dozen great names of great characters.

If football games were decided on the basis of players’ names instead of points scored, I’d hand the Super Bowl victory to The New York Giants and their quarterback EliManning. Eli is on the rise, reaching #65 in 2010 before considering boys named Elijah, Elias, Elliot, and Elliott who might answer to Eli, too.

Brady, on the other hand, was boosted by long-time New England Patriots quarterback TomBrady, plus Miranda’s adorable red-haired son on Sex and the City. But the football star has had a long career, and Miranda’s kiddo is growing up in infrequent movie sequels. The stylish Irish surname is fading, falling to #125 in 2010.

Of course, it really works the other way around. While Eli will likely rise regardless of the game’s outcome, would a big win for the Patriots reverse Brady’s slide?

We’ll have to wait and see. For now, here are this week’s nine newsiest names: